MBTA now says new Orange Line cars won't go into service until early spring

WBUR reports the first brand-new Orange Line car since the 1980s won't start taking passengers until sometime in March. The T says the delay - it had originally hoped to have at least one new train running by last month - is to thoroughly test the French-made systems that will link the trains to the line's signalling system. The delay is just for the very first train - it should not affect delivery of future cars from the Springfield factory assembling the cars from mostly Chinese components, the T says.

I'd rather the trains be ready than be rolled out and have problems (I'm looking at you, Green Line Type 8s.)

And if people are looking for "world class" examples, I will once again note how Transport for London delayed the opening of the Elizabeth Line came surprising close to its completion and, well, most projects in that city to the southwest of us.

is to thoroughly test the French-made systems that will link the trains to the line's signalling system.

I recall seeing a completed new Orange Line car or two on this site last fall or earlier. I believe it was being tested and providing driver training. Does this delay mean that they discovered a flaw showing the new trains incompatible? It wouldn't be the first or worst example of government incompetence, so I wouldn't be surprised if they had to re-wire the new trains or the old signalling system. I went with 2020 in the poll, I wish 2020+ was an option.

FWIW, Channel-4 news has a slightly different spin from the T, saying that "third party testing" of the new cars is needed, no specific mention of the signalling system.

The T's Red/Orange/Blue signal system has been around for what, 30 years?

Why can't the trains have the same onboard hardware the T already uses? Proven reliability and parts commonality should be the goal. When you get a brand new untested product, that's how you run into trouble.

When Toyota designs the 2020 Camry, they don't throw away the plans for the 2019 Camry and start from scratch. They keep what works, and change what doesn't, and many of the parts will be interchangeable. That's how you build a highly reliable and affordable vehicle.

From what I read, they aren't as successful with operating as we are in Boston. I mean, if having a 15 MPH speed limit while having trains stacked up is your definition of success, sure. I mean, they are still using color signals on their system.

I'm still looking for London's version of success. They are running trains on the Victoria Line at 90 second intervals at good speeds because they were able to update their signaling system. London is in the 21st century, while New York has barely entered the 20th.

As I said before, have you ever sat in stop-and-go train traffic from before Kendall, over the Longfellow, to Park Street? And this is on 5-minute headways, under everyday conditions when there's no broken down train or signal problem.

Have you ever sat in the 10-minute conga line of trolleys approaching Boylston?

I'm not sure why you think we're more successful at train throughput and speeds than we are. They have 3-minute headways. We don't. We have major jams getting into terminals like Alewife every single rush hour. They don't.